University of California Berkeley's Harper Kamp is foaled by the University of California San Diego's Christian Hatch in the second half, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley's Harper Kamp is foaled by the...

Image 2 of 9

University of California Berkeley's David Kravish, center rushes to the ball against the University of California San Diego Tritons, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley's David Kravish, center rushes to...

Image 3 of 9

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery, urges with the officials in the exhibition game against the University of California San Diego's Tritons, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery,...

Image 4 of 9

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery, urges with the officials in the exhibition game against the University of California San Diego's Tritons, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery,...

Image 5 of 9

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery cheers on his team against the University of California San Diego's Tritons, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley's head coach Mike Montgomery...

Image 6 of 9

University of California Berkeley Richard Soloman jumps over University of California San Diego's Ryan Peters for a basket in the second half of the game, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley Richard Soloman jumps over...

Image 7 of 9

University of California Berkeley Justin Cobbs is foaled by University of California San Diego's Christian Hatch as he makes a basket in the first half of the game, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

University of California Berkeley Justin Cobbs is foaled by...

Image 8 of 9

University of California Berkeley's David Kravish gets a rebound from the University of California San Diego's Dylan Bohanan, Tuesday November 1, 2011, at the Haas pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.

With four starters returning and improved depth, this will be a different Cal team in 2011-12. For one thing, head coach Mike Montgomery's 24th-ranked Bears are expected to contend for the Pac-12 title after being picked a narrow second to No. 17 UCLA in a recent media poll.

So what say you, fellows?

"That's always the bane of coaches, those expectations," Montgomery said. "Our job is to try to get better and improve and be a consistently good team. We have an opportunity to win some games. We're not that good (that) we can take things for granted. We have to be a close-knit group."

Toward that, senior guard Jorge Gutierrez and senior forward Harper Kamp wield the knitting needles. Their teammates will take their cues from these two leaders, and in that regard, the Bears should be fine. Gutierrez is Cal's heart, and that heart is always aflame with desire to excel. Kamp is its cerebral focus masquerading as a sweaty, hard-working 6-foot-8 banger.

For soul, it's hard to beat the smooth athleticism of sophomore Allen Crabbe, the Pac-10's Freshman of the Year last season. He'll be the focal point of the offense whenever the Bears cross the midcourt stripe.

"He'll figure out what he has to do to help us," Montgomery said. "For us to be successful, Allen has to get shots. He's going to have to get some off the glass, he's going to have to get some off the break."

When he took the court for Cal's exhibition against UC San Diego last week, it looked physically like there was more to Crabbe than last season, the result of time spent in the weight room.

"He's filling out nicely," Montgomery noted.

Crabbe said he emphasized his legs during weightlifting sessions in the offseason, the better to last a full season running the court and threading his way through traffic to find his shot. Like Gutierrez, major minutes await him this season, starting Friday at Haas Pavilion in the season opener against UC Irvine.

"We have extra weight on our shoulders, we have more expectations," Crabbe said. "Everyone knows we have more expectations. We know our roles. Plus, we have experience. Everyone has a year under their belts. They know what to expect."

Point guard Brandon Smith is Cal's fourth returning starter, but to hold onto his job, he'll have to fend off Justin Cobbs, eligible now after sitting out a year after transferring from Minnesota.

Cobbs could be a dynamic addition to the Cal lineup as the season progresses, based on his sterling play in last week's exhibition.

"He gave us what we needed the other night, for sure," Montgomery said. "If he can do what he did the other night on a consistent basis, he's going to be a big part of what we need."

Sophomore forward Richard Solomon is Cal's other starter, and much more will be expected of him this season from a year ago, when he was a mistake-prone yearling. This time, he's bigger, stronger and understands his role more clearly.

"I'm definitely stronger, been working on my post game. It's a whole different me," Solomon said. "I have more confidence. I know what's expected of me. I'm not nervous like I was last year. My role is to rebound, play defense, make the shots I get; mainly rebounds - I'll focus on that."

The Bears have some intriguing depth to play with this season in 6-10, 260-pound junior Robert Thurman, Cal's biggest player; springy 6-9 freshman forward David Kravish; 6-9 holdover Bak Bak; and sharpshooter Jeff Powers, a 6-7 wing player.

"We have more experience, more depth, more willingness to do what we need to do," Kamp said. "We're going to have to sacrifice for the team. You can see the guys are feeling a little more pressure. I feel we have guys who will embrace that."

3 keys

1. Stay healthy, Jorge: Senior guard Jorge Gutierrez is Cal's emotional leader, a fiery player capable of doing a lot of things well as well as driving the opposition crazy with his relentless defense. He needs to be on the court for major minutes.

2. Crabbe season: Sophomore Allen Crabbe is a smooth offensive player who can light it up when he gets in a zone. It will be the job of his teammates to get him the ball often enough for him to find his rhythm. He had a high of 30 against Washington State last season.

3. Low post, high yield: That's what the Bears hope to get from sophomore forward Richard Solomon, who moves into the starting lineup this season. He's 6-foot-10 and more muscled and mature than he was as a freshman. The Bears will count on him for rebounding, defense and opportunistic baskets.